The Surgery Book: An Illustrated Guide to 73 of the Most Common O

Nothing is more daunting than facing the prospect of surgery. Whether the patient is yourself or a loved one, you are bound to have many questions about the operation the doctor has recommended--concerns that even the most attentive and thorough doctor might be too busy to address completely.

The Surgery Book is a dependable, comprehensive sourcebook that answers these important medical questions. Designed for the layperson, the book explains the seventy-three most common surgical operations, delivering the information that every well-informed patient needs to know, in a clear, easy-to-understand format. for each question, it answers these critical questions:

--Why is the operation necessary?
--How is the operation performed?
--What does the surgeon hope to accomplish?
--How long will post-operation recovery take, and will there be pain or other side effects?

The book alos explains what every patient should know about each of the most common diagnostic and surgical tests, including angiography, cardiac catheterization, ultrasound, PET scans, laparoscopy, biopsies, and MRI scans. It also covers blood transfusion and tissue and organ transplantation, in addition to giving readers a thorough introduction to operating-room procedures, staff, and equipment.

Written by a leading surgeon and thoroughly illustrated with more than 350 step-by-step drawings, The Surgery Book allays patients' fears and anxieties and helps them become fully informed about their upcoming experience in the operating room.

For those not facing surgery but who are simply curious about various surgical procedures and what actually takes place in an operating room, The Surgery Book is an excellent guide. Its clear text and illustrations both illuminate and explain this fascinating world.

Individuals who'd like a preview of what to expect in the operating room will clamor for this useful book. Using medical terms judiciously, Youngson, a surgeon, demystifies 75 of the most commonly performed operations. His clear, "step-by-step" descriptions are bracketed by brief remarks explaining why the operation is usually recommended, what can be accomplished, and how one will feel in post-op and over the long term. More than 350 drawings buttress the words, pinpointing areas affected by the surgery and clarifying certain aspects of the procedures themselves. Youngson prefaces it all with a reassuring overview of what one can expect at the hospital "before, during, and after." Not everyone will be happy to learn that a surgeon's equipment can include a power saw and acrylic cement, or that complications are possible and pain is likely, but many patients-to-be or their friends and family will find such forthrightness welcome. Stephanie Zvirin